Nandy flags downsides of closer EU relations Politics Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy has suggested there are downsides to closer relations with the European Union. Speaking to the BBC, Nandy said she acknowledged there were “trade-offs” from boosting trade with the EU. The culture secretary, who has a brief overseeing digital and telecommunications sectors, said she did not want to “cut people out of [...]
‘Dear CEO’: Union reps hit chief executive inboxes at 12.03am Business Union bosses flooded chief executives’ email inboxes at 12.03am, minutes after new workers’ rights rules came into effect, it has been reported. GMB representatives contacted thousands of company chiefs with a template email starting “Dear CEO” on 30 October, according to the Sunday Times. The emails reportedly informed bosses of employees’ legal rights to access [...]
Talent agency snaps up Starmer for speaking engagements Politics A celebrity talent agency has tapped former Prime Minsiter Sir Keir Starmer for speaking engagements as he looks to share his views and experiences in Downing Street at paid events. Starmer has signed up with Creative Artists Agency, an $1.1bn international business that counts celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Gordon Ramsay, Kamala Harris and Jacinda [...]
Festus Akinbusoye: I’m more fun than Cleverly November 6, 2026 The Conservatives are on the hunt for their candidate for the London mayor elections in 2028. Mauricio Alencar spoke to one Sir James Cleverly’s challengers, Festus Akinbusoye. Festus Akinbusoye imagines what a London under his leadership would look like: outdoor cinemas set up by London’s beauty spots, thousands more police officers on the streets, celebrities [...]
New Mandelson files to be released ‘by Christmas’ November 5, 2026 New files relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador are expected to be published by Christmas, City AM can reveal. The senior civil servant Cat Little has written to MPs, saying the Metropolitan Police has allowed the government to publish new files which were previously held back by the Metropolitan Police pending an [...]
Betfred ditch Derby sponsorship and blame Healey Budget tax hikes November 5, 2026 Betfred have pulled out of sponsoring the Derby, citing Chancellor John Healey’s tax hikes at last month’s Budget. The gambling firm signed a deal, in two parts, to sponsor five major racing meets in the United Kingdom known as the British Classics. Feature races include the Derby and Oaks at Epsom, the St Leger – [...]
Bank of England hikes interest rates to four per cent as inflation set to spike November 5, 2026 The Bank of England has raised interest rates to four per cent as all policymakers agreed to tighten monetary policy in a bid to stop inflation from spiralling in the next year. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee hiked interest rates for the first time since mid-2023, with policymakers warning another hike could come in upcoming [...]
Consultancies vulnerable as government plots non-compete axe November 5, 2026 Government proposals to scrap non-compete clauses may have ‘significant implications’ for the wider professional services sector. In the Budget, John Healey confirmed that the government is introducing legislation to reform non-compete clauses in employment contracts across the economy, in a bid to lubricate the labour marker for startups and scaling firms. The government will publish [...]
Burnham’s Ten Year Plan: a Poundland in every postcode? November 5, 2026 You may barely be over the excitement of the Budget, but brace yourselves: Andy Burnham’s Ten Year Plan for Britain is coming into view. Expect a ban on Smoky Bacon flavour crisps and a state-run Poundland in every postcode. The PM’s ‘Brexit reset’ will see the UK sign up to all the latest EU rules [...]
Mayors to get new powers over water companies in ‘public control’ push November 5, 2026 Mayors will get new powers over how water companies are run under new “regional water councils”, the government has announced. The government has said that mayors have been asked to “submit proposals” on how they want the new water councils to be run within the next two months, with plans then drawing out pressures on [...]